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Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic LZ20

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
41
Overall
38
Nikon Coolpix S9100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
Portability
71
Imaging
40
Features
34
Overall
37

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic LZ20 Key Specs

Nikon S9100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 105 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced July 2011
  • New Model is Nikon S9300
Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 499g - 120 x 76 x 80mm
  • Released July 2012
  • Later Model is Panasonic LZ30
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Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic LZ20 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic LZ20, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the S9100 (12MP) and LZ20 (16MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The S9100 was announced 12 months before the LZ20 so they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Nikon S9100 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the S9100 matches up versus the LZ20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon S9100 over the Panasonic LZ20

 S9100 LZ20 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Nikon S9100

 LZ20 S9100 
ReleasedJuly 2012July 2011Newer by 12 months

Common features in the Nikon S9100 and Panasonic LZ20

 S9100 LZ20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic LZ20 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Nikon S9100 has outer dimensions of 105mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Panasonic LZ20 has sizing of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") with a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Examine the Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic LZ20 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the S9100 vs the LZ20.

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic LZ20 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S9100 and LZ20 is 91 and 71 respectively.

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic LZ20 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic LZ20 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by researching a spec sheet. The picture below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the S9100 and LZ20.

Clearly, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You should expect to see the Panasonic LZ20 to render greater detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged S9100 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic LZ20 sensor size comparison

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S9100 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic LZ20 as a Portrait photography camera
33
you can focus manually
provides face detection focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
37
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon S9100 Street photography features
Panasonic LZ20 Street photography features
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (214g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
45
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
heavier than competition (499 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S9100 Sports photography details
Panasonic LZ20 Sports photography details
36
incredible zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery pack (270 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
47
amazing zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
good battery (380 shots)
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon S9100
Travel photography with Panasonic LZ20
61
lighter than average (214 grams)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (450mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low battery pack (270 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
58
good battery (380 per charge)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long zoom (525mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (499g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon S9100
Landscape photography with Panasonic LZ20
40
you can focus manually
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery pack (270 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
45
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good battery (380 shots)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon S9100
Vlogging with Panasonic LZ20
34
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (214g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone jack
25
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic port
heavier than competition (499g)
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Nikon S9100 vs Panasonic LZ20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S9100 and Panasonic LZ20
 Nikon Coolpix S9100Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix S9100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-07-19 2012-07-18
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed C2 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-450mm (18.0x) 25-525mm (21.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.1-5.8
Macro focus distance 4cm 2cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 921k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 15 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m 6.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 214g (0.47 lbs) 499g (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 105 x 62 x 35mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.4") 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 270 photographs 380 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL12 -
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $329 $250